Four players we should target

PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A RIDICULOUS TRADE THREAD. Everyone listed here is obtainable without a great deal of fuss

This post makes the following two assumptions. The Raptors Core going forward is Lowry/Ross/Gay/Valanciunas

Everyone else seems to be expendable.

The second assumption is we are not going after another near max player (although that can be argued as well)

Derrick Williams SF/PF Minnesota
The man is a gifted athlete and an effective 3pt shooter (35% this season) He would benefit greatly from a change in scenery and a new role.

Wilson Chandler SG/SF Denver
A two way player that can guard three positions. He is coming off surgery which is a completely valid excuse to avoid him. I say buy low on him as you don't ever hear the words "career ending hip injury" in the NBA.

Paul Millsap PF Utah
We would need to spend to keep him. By my estimate 10 - 12 million per year. But he is a great two way player tough defender good mid range shooter, a good rebounder not to mention gritty. A true Casey 4.

Steve Blake PG Lakers
I for one am tired of PG controversies. But I do want one that could start in a pinch. Steve Blake is no threat to Kyle Lowry. He is a capable play maker and decent 3pt shooter. Duhon is a better fit in the backup role for LA.

- Calderon :-)
- Collison (if not qualified by Dallas)
- Augustin
- Duhon (if option not picked-up by Lakers)
- Ridnour (under contract with Minnesota, but could be another trade target, given that he's their 3rd/4th PG behind Rubio, Shved and Barea)

All the more reason to focus on acquiring a starting PF in any trade of DeRozan (possibly along with any of Bargnani, Kleiza, Anderson), be it a trade at the deadline or in the offseason. Millsap would be my primary PF target, be it in trade or free agency.

PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A RIDICULOUS TRADE THREAD. Everyone listed here is obtainable without a great deal of fuss

This post makes the following two assumptions. The Raptors Core going forward is Lowry/Ross/Gay/Valanciunas

Everyone else seems to be expendable.

The second assumption is we are not going after another near max player (although that can be argued as well)

Derrick Williams SF/PF Minnesota
The man is a gifted athlete and an effective 3pt shooter (35% this season) He would benefit greatly from a change in scenery and a new role.

Wilson Chandler SG/SF Denver
A two way player that can guard three positions. He is coming off surgery which is a completely valid excuse to avoid him. I say buy low on him as you don't ever hear the words "career ending hip injury" in the NBA.

Paul Millsap PF Utah
We would need to spend to keep him. By my estimate 10 - 12 million per year. But he is a great two way player tough defender good mid range shooter, a good rebounder not to mention gritty. A true Casey 4.

Steve Blake PG Lakers
I for one am tired of PG controversies. But I do want one that could start in a pinch. Steve Blake is no threat to Kyle Lowry. He is a capable play maker and decent 3pt shooter. Duhon is a better fit in the backup role for LA.

Good thread overall and I like the base assumptions. With the presumed core of these four... the true need is a PF and I like Millsap with this lineup. With Amir and Fields off the bench this is a solid unit. Ross and Val progress could take this team to Indiana, Chicago, Brooklyn level in a few years. People just need to be patient now. Another three team deal that nets us Millsap, Derozan going to Utah and Bargs ends up somewhere... don't care where?

he is buried behind Kirilenko and Love... and he is a four with range. If your PG/SG and PF can drop threes at or around 35 - 40%...and your C can hammer people on screens and dive to the bucket... = easy offense.

2.) If you have Lowry/Ross/Gay/Williams on the floor then during crunch time defensive plays you switch on every screen. You will often see crunch time subs from many other teams in order to put someone out there that allows you to switch.